A select group of educators, scientists and students got a chance to step aboard Korean icebreaker the RV Araon late in March. Key members of the International Antarctic Centre team travelled…

Experience Antarctica

Storm Dome

A great poet once said, “What’s cooler than being cool? (It’s) ice-cold.” Chilled to minus 5° Celsius, swept through by a minus 18°C wind, buffeted by a realistic Antarctic storm every hour, this room is definitely cooler than cool. Get into our protective clothing, step into the room and get ready for a world of chill.

Hägglund Field Trip

So you think your commute is rough? You haven’t experienced anything until you’ve buckled up and held on aboard the Hägglund – our amazing all-terrain amphibious Antarctic vehicle. You’ll feel what it’s like driving across the ice, up and down hills, above crevasses and through water – the end of the road is just the start of your journey.

Penguin Rescue

While our little blue penguins are the smallest team members they more than make up for their lack of size with superior fish-catching ability and an enduring talent for overall cuteness. Each day at 10.30am and 3.30 pm it’s feeding time, which is a real highlight for them, for us and for the many spellbound penguin watchers.

4D theatre

“It’s like you were really there” is the type of praise good filmmaking receives. This makes the films shown in our 4D theatre truly the very best of intense, in-your-face cinema. It’s an experience so immersive you’ll leave the theatre slightly bedraggled, incredibly wide-eyed and absolutely, undoubtedly exhilarated.

Husky Zone

There are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who meet our huskies and are suitably impressed by the calm demeanour, incredible beauty and keen intelligence. Then there are the visitors whose first reaction is to bounce from foot to foot while hyperventilating, “Ohmygod, ohmygod, fluffy ice doggos are amaaaaazing!” So… which are you?

Antarctic Gallery

It’s a whole lot of icy continent in one convenient space – a gallery full of science and magic that encourages you to delve deeper into the importance of Antarctica. With a few small steps you’ll cover miles of ice and walk through decades of history – this is an exhibit that rewards every second you’ll spend here.

HD theatre

They say no two snowflakes are the same. Watching our crystal-clear HD screen you just might be able to spot the difference. It’s a massive canvas for an incredible film about a massive continent –'Beyond the Frozen Sunset' by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Mike Single. There’s no better way to get the big picture of Antarctica.

Behind the scenes tours

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes making sure our flipper-flapping friends are healthy and happy. Take an exclusive tour behind the scenes and you’ll get to experience it all. It’s the closest you can get to the penguin life without diving right in.

Antarctic Academy Programmes

We’re helping to educate and inspire the next generation of explorers with a range of education programmes that have been carefully designed to suit the interests and learning needs of the modern student.

School Holiday Programmes

Need a unique school holiday programme in Christchurch that will provide life-long memories? Why not send them to Antarctica?